How to back a car into parking bay quickly and accurately?

[Miguey]

I park ass backwards 95% of the time. You'd hate seeing me drive.


And I don't know if practice is what you need. You need someone who knows what they're doing to show you how to do it. My stepfather was sitting beside me one day (I already knew how to drive), and he just gave me simple advice on how to back into a spot. I tried it, it worked perfectly, and it has been very very easy since then.

Follow my little diagram:

1. Drive straight.
2. When you see an awesome parking space, drive towards it.
3. When you get close to the parking spot, turn your car the other way and drive away from you. Essentially, once you get close enough to the spot, make a semi "U-turn".

4. Stop. Look behind you. Change gears to REVERSE.

5. Back into the spot.


When I'm at step 4, the back of my car is facing the parking space directly. If I straighten my steering wheel, I can almost back straight into the parking space. The car will require a slight adjustment in angle. That's all. Easy.

If you don't do Step #2, it'll be a lot more difficult to back into the space because you need to back your car into the spot in the way that's similar to driving forward into the space. This requires you to turn your car by 90 degrees.

My God thats a nifty little diagram I'm gonna use it...

 

[skyrider007]

Follow my little diagram:

Awesome diagram!

 

[Abstract]

A picture says a thousand words. Much easier and faster to explain things using one of those. Took 5 minutes to whip up.


Besides, I'm more than happy to show you, and the rest of MR, how I roll. (...into a parking spot)

 

[craigverse]

I'd just say try to avoid doing this:

I'm inclined to agree. Avoid that.

 

[iJohnHenry]

Just go in FORWARD!

It takes MUCH less time, and is much less annoying to other drivers.

When you back out, go slowly. People are happy to stop for you because your space is opening up.

Except the woman dragging two kids, and pushing a shopping cart.

Pull through is always preferred, as stated.

Skip the chauffeur, get Daddy to buy you 4 traffic cones, go to the empty part of the back of a lot, and ... well ... you know ... the 3 P's.

 

[Lunja]

When I was learning to drive, my instructor helped me out by telling me to line up the side mirror with one of bay dividing lines, usually the third one after the space that you want to park in. Once the mirror was in line, I'd match the speed of the car to the turning of the steering wheel, and the car would just slot in.

So, if you can work out how many lines that you need to be ahead of, you'll be fine. I'd suggest going to an empty parking lot, pulling through a space, and then slowly pulling out and turning until you are straight in the roadway (essentially doing the manouvre backwards). Once you're straight, line up the side mirror with a line, and count how many lines away it is from your space. Get it right, and all you'll ever have to do is spot a space, count x lines, and start turning!

There's a good chance that none of that has made sense, but I'll whip up a diagram if it doesn't

 

[nakamuramori2]

you need a new car that comes out with the camera for parking guide.